WV Primary Election Day Gets Off to Slow Start in Berkeley County

WV Primary Election Day Gets Off to Slow Start in Berkeley County

05/13/2014 07:00 PM

Election officials say the turnout Tuesday morning was disappointing. They are hoping to see more voters come out before polls close at 7:30 p.m.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - Polls opened at 6:30 a.m. in West Virginia for primary elections Tuesday. Officials in BerkeleyCounty say despite the relatively high turnout for early voting this year, turnout on primary election day got off to a slow start.

"Well the start of the day here on election day has been a little slow,” said Bonnie Woodfall, Berkeley County Chief Deputy Clerk.“And we did pick up some voters at around 10 we know that from talking to precincts. We hope that it increases as the day goes on."

West Virginia Secretary of State Natalie Tennant says a record number of West Virginians voted early for the midterm primary election this year. BerkeleyCounty had more than 1,700 early ballots cast.

"Our early voting turnout was a little bit higher than it was in 2010 on a primary midterm,” said Woodfall. “So we were pleased with that."

But election officials say the turnout on Tuesday has not been as impressive. They are hoping to see more voters come out before polls close.

"As the day goes on, they pick up and more voters go out so we're hoping for that,” said Woodfall. “They definitely should get out and vote we have races that affect our county and the people that live here."

Officials at the Berkeley County Voter Registration Office say they are hoping at least 20 to 25 percent of registered voters cast a ballot for this primary election.

Polls close at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.

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